Somebody makes history in Arlington on Friday, and it could go either way. Australia have never won a World Cup knockout match in their entire history. Egypt, until this summer, had never even reached the knockout rounds. One of these long, frustrating droughts ends this week. Mohamed Salah’s fitness is the swing factor everyone is watching, after he was forced off in Egypt’s final group game. Here is the TV channel, the kick-off time where you are, the likely lineups and our prediction for Australia vs Egypt.
Kickoff is 2:00 PM ET on Friday, July 3 / 7:00 PM in the UK at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, a 1pm local start. In the US it is on Fox. In Britain it is free on BBC One, with streaming on iPlayer and ITVX.
Where to Watch Australia vs Egypt
Free on BBC One in the UK. In the US it is on Fox.
Quick tip: in the UK this is free on BBC One, streaming via iPlayer and ITVX. Our guide to watching the World Cup in the UK has every channel and time. In the US it is on Fox, plus Fubo, Peacock and YouTube TV. Australian viewers get it free on SBS from 3am AEST.
Australia vs Egypt TV Channel and Live Stream
USA UK Australia Egypt
Canada
IndiaWhat Time Is Australia vs Egypt in Your City?
New York (ET)Dallas (CT, local)Los Angeles (PT)
Cairo (EET)
London (BST)
Madrid / Paris (CEST)
Dubai (GST)
New Delhi (IST)
Sydney (AEST)
Doha (AST)When Does It Kick Off Where You Are?
Pick your country and we will do the maths.
The Road to the Round of 32
Australia finished second in Group D behind co-hosts USA. Egypt finished second in Group G behind Belgium, separated only by goal difference. Every final table is in our World Cup 2026 groups guide.
AustraliaEgyptThe winner advances to the Round of 16 to face the winner of Argentina vs Cape Verde. If level after 90 minutes, the tie goes to extra time and, if needed, penalties.
Two Nations, One Overdue First
Start with the number that defines Australia's tournament history: zero. In six previous World Cups they have never won a single knockout match, beaten by Italy in 2006 and by eventual champions Argentina in 2022. Tony Popovic has kept this squad guessing all summer, rotating heavily, six changes for the USA defeat after an opening 2-0 win over Turkiye in which teenage sensation Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe both scored, only to see both dropped to the bench next time out. A goalless draw with Paraguay, which suited everyone, sealed second place. Nobody quite knows which Australia turns up in Dallas, and that unpredictability from Popovic might actually be an asset now.
Egypt's history has its own gap to fill. This is their fourth World Cup appearance and, remarkable as it sounds for a footballing nation of this size, they had never once advanced beyond the group stage before this summer. A gutsy 1-1 draw with Belgium got them going, then came the moment that mattered most: a 3-1 win over New Zealand, Egypt's first ever World Cup victory. A second 1-1 draw, against Iran, was enough to see them through in second place, but it came at a cost. Mohamed Salah was forced off with a hamstring issue and requested his own substitution, a worrying sign that has left his fitness for Friday genuinely in doubt.
If Salah cannot go, or is nowhere near full fitness, the weight shifts heavily onto Omar Marmoush, who has not yet hit top form at this tournament, and Mostafa Trezeguet. The good news for Hossam Hassan is that Egypt have used five different scorers already, this is not a one-man team, and their qualifying campaign saw them keep a remarkable five clean sheets in six games. Australia's Mathew Ryan, well past a century of caps, anchors a defence that will look to sit compact and hit Egypt on the break through Irankunda's pace and Awer Mabil's directness.
There is almost no history between these sides to lean on, just a 2010 friendly Egypt won 3-0 and a scoreless Korea Cup game from 1987. This is genuinely first-time, first-blood stuff. If Salah plays and is anywhere near himself, Egypt's greater individual quality should tell. If he cannot go, this becomes a properly open contest that Australia's discipline and counter-attacking pace could easily win. We lean marginally towards Egypt, with the obvious caveat hanging over their captain's fitness.
How They Might Line Up
Australia are without the injured Jacob Italiano, whose tournament is over, but otherwise have a full squad for Popovic to rotate from. Egypt's team news is entirely about one man: Mohamed Salah is a doubt after a hamstring issue and faces a late fitness test, with Trezeguet or Zico ready to deputise if he cannot start.
AUSTRALIA · Popovic · 4-3-3Ryan · Geria, Souttar, Degenek, Bos · O’Neill, Irvine (c), Metcalfe · Mabil, Irankunda, Leckie
EGYPT · Hassan · 4-2-3-1El Shenawy · Hany, Rabia, Y Ibrahim, Hafez · Fathy, Ashour · Salah (c), Attia, Trezeguet · Marmoush
Who Makes History in Dallas?
The Socceroos' first knockout win, or Salah and the Pharaohs writing another chapter? Sign up on Vatan in seconds and back your call.
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A Word on Dallas Stadium
Better known as AT&T Stadium, home of the five-time Super Bowl winning Dallas Cowboys, this Arlington venue is known as Dallas Stadium during the World Cup. It has already staged five group games, including a Netherlands-Japan thriller and two Messi-inspired Argentina wins, and will also host a Round of 16 tie and a semi-final. There is more on it at Wikipedia.
There is almost nothing to go on. Australia and Egypt have met just twice ever, a 3-0 Egypt win in a November 2010 friendly and a goalless draw at the 1987 Korea Cup. This is their first ever World Cup meeting.
Australia vs Egypt: Quick Answers
What time does Australia vs Egypt kick off?
2pm Eastern in the US, which is 1pm local in Dallas. In the UK it is 7pm BST, in Cairo 9pm, and in Australia it is 4am AEST on Saturday. The date is Friday, July 3, 2026.
What channel is Australia vs Egypt on in the US?
Fox has the broadcast. You can also stream it via Fubo, Peacock and YouTube TV.
Is Australia vs Egypt free to watch in the UK?
Yes. It is live and free on BBC One, with free streaming via BBC iPlayer and also available on ITVX.
Is Mohamed Salah playing for Egypt?
He is a doubt. Salah was forced off with a hamstring issue during Egypt's final group game against Iran and faces a late fitness test before kickoff.
What happens if it is a draw after 90 minutes?
This is a knockout tie, so a draw means 30 minutes of extra time and then a penalty shootout if the teams are still level. The winner reaches the Round of 16; the loser is out.
Who does the winner play next?
The winner of Australia vs Egypt advances to the Round of 16 to face the winner of Argentina vs Cape Verde, with that tie played in Atlanta on July 7.
Why is this game historic for both teams?
Australia have never won a World Cup knockout match in their history. Egypt had never advanced past the group stage before this tournament. Whichever side wins on Friday achieves something new for their country.
What is the prediction?
We lean marginally towards Egypt, around 2-1, but it hinges heavily on Mohamed Salah's fitness. If he cannot start, this becomes a genuinely open contest that Australia's discipline and pace on the counter could win.
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